A click closer || Ren

44

MJ’s gaze shifted to the bouquet in Kanning’s arms, and a teasing grin curled on his lips. “Are you here to profess your love to someone? There’s the flower of love in that bouquet.”

“That’s not the case! Don’t tease me, P’MJ,” Kanning protested, flustered.

Lia elbowed her lightly, a smug smile on her face. “Told you so. These are not just a nice bouquet.”

Kanning let out a tiny gasp and smacked her arm. “Ow,” Lia hissed under her breath, rubbing the spot.

Kanning tried to quickly change the subject. “What about the others? Where are they?”

Ren looked at her, then answered, “Thyme is staying at home. He said he’s too lazy to come.”

He glanced at MJ, who chuckled lightly, shaking his head. “He who is above all the rules.”

Ren’s gaze returned to Kanning, a slight teasing smirk on his lips. “And Kavin is preparing for his speech inside. He’s the valedictorian.”

Lia blinked, turning to them. “Valedictorian? I didn’t know he had that brain to become one.”

Kanning gave her another playful smack. “Ow! I didn’t say anything wrong this time,” Lia muttered, rubbing her arm again and glaring at her before looking back at the boys. “You don’t need to be the best student here. You just need to have an uncle who’s the education minister.” MJ said.

Then she tilted her head. “Do you want to come inside?” MJ asked.

Lia quickly shook her head. “She can if she wants. I’m going home.”

“Ayy, come on,” MJ chimed in, grinning as he pointed at her with both hands. “You also need to see how to give a speech as a valedictorian. I’m sure you might become one.”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “Tsk. I’m not smart. Everyone here is just stupid.”

Ren let out a small chuckle at that, a subtle smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Then, without warning, he stepped forward and casually wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

“Just come in,” he said, already guiding her toward the auditorium. “I’ll drop you back home. Don’t want you to spend your money on a taxi.”

She blinked, caught off guard, her steps stumbling slightly before falling into rhythm beside him. “I didn’t ask you to…”

“Doesn’t matter,” he said simply.

Kanning smiled behind them, bouquet in hand, while MJ followed with a smug grin. “Ah, young love.”

“Shut up,” Lia and Ren said in unison—earning a laugh from MJ that echoed down the hallway.

_

“A better future is waiting for us to run toward it.” – Kavin ✨

She looked at the quote on her phone—the one Kavin had said during his speech. She had saved it without thinking, maybe because it felt like something she needed to remember.

With a quiet sigh, she closed her phone and slipped it back into her pocket.

“Let’s go?” Ren’s voice came from beside her.

She glanced up at him and nodded. “Let’s go.”

They walked side by side toward his car. The late afternoon breeze brushed past them, light and warm.

“Exams will start soon,” she said, the weight of it pressing gently on her tone. “I’m kind of scared. I don’t even know if I’ll pass with everything going on. I don’t want to lose my scholarship… and I really don’t want to listen to Bella’s taunts and nagging.”